The prescribed drug belongs to the class of

therapy for adults who are not allergic to penicillin (DeCastro, Mims, & Hueston, 2014). The
prescribed drug belongs to the class of penicillin-like antibiotics, which works by discontinuing

COMMON COLD TREATMENT CASE STUDY 4
the growth of bacteria. Amoxicillin binds to penicillin-binding proteins, thus inhibiting final
transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell walls; the addition of
clavulanate inhibits beta-lactamase-producing bacteria, allowing amoxicillin extended the
spectrum of action. It is a semisynthetic antibiotic with a broad range of bactericidal activity,
covering both gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms. His dose of amoxicillin-
clavulanate is 875 mg/125 mg orally twice daily for seven days. It comes in different oral forms
such as tablets, chewable tablets, extended-release tablets, and suspension. The half-life is 1-1.5
hours. The drug is metabolized in liver and excreted in urine. As for the contraindications, the
drug should not be used by patients are hypersensitive to penicillin (Woo & Robinson, 2015). It
is also contraindicated in patients with carbapenem hypersensitivity, cephalosporin
hypersensitivity, eczema, urticaria, and asthma. It needs to be used with caution in those patients
with pre-existing hepatic disease and monitor liver function during therapy
(amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium, 2018). Some of the adverse drug reactions associated with
this medication include serum sickness, vasculitis, angioedema, seizures, insomnia, dizziness,
lightheadedness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, gas, diarrhea, and dizziness among other effects.
Currently, there’s no black box warning for amoxicillin/clavulanate.
4. Would this treatment vary if Mr. JD was a ten-year-old 78 lb child? Include the class
of the medication, mechanism of action, dosing, route, the half-life; how it is
metabolized in and eliminated from the body; and contraindications and black box
warnings